I had another round of flights recently--this time a bit farther, about two hours each way. I experienced a lot of anxiety leading up to the trip, right up until boarding. It was strong enough that I even considered taking medication, but instead I chose to accept the possibility of a panic attack. Once I did, I actually started to relax and ended up enjoying the flight. For the first time in a long while, I found myself smiling on the plane and genuinely enjoying the experience. That meant a lot because I’ve always loved airplanes and aviation, so it was great to reconnect with that sense of joy. Throughout the rest of the trip, I kept challenging myself to go with the flow instead of trying to control every detail. I spent most days far from the hotel, let myself get hungry without worrying, ate at a restaurant, and drove all around the Detroit area. I had a supportive, awesome friend with me.
